Selective switch



C. L. GOODRUM.

SELECTIVE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-8. I917.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

/n v e nfo r.- (fiar/es L. good/ m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 WESTER'N' ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELECTIVE SWITCH. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 26, 1921.

Application filed September 8, 1917. Serial No. 190,367.

of certain advantageous features in line switches, whereby a simple and economical construction of parts maybe realizedtogether with an efficient and reliable operation. of the same. v

In selective switches used heretofore, it has been the general practice to arrange the brushes or wipers so that, in engaging the associated terminals, they participate in a circular motion about a given axis of rotation. Such an arrangement requires that the terminal bank be disposed along the arc of a circle, which structure is not only complicated in its manufacture, but is also difficult of access whenever it becomes necessary to repair or readjust parts.

By the present invention there has been provided a switch which is not open to the above objections, in that the several elements are so arranged as to permit the use of a panel type of terminal bank, which form of bank, besides being simple to construct and affording facilities to repair and inspect, is also possessed of certain other desirable features that recommend its use whenever practicable.

Another feature which characterizes this switch residesin the fact that the movable parts are designed to operate in accordance with the so called 'stay put principle. That is to say, the brushes or wipers do not restore to a normal position after having been taken for use, but remain upon the terminals last used. i

A more complete disclosure of this inven: tion may be derived from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure illustrates in perspective one embodiment of a switch constructed in accordance with the features of the said invention. It will be understood that in the figure shown, certain parts are represented more or less diagrammatically, while other elements, not forming a part of the invention or not considered essential to a clear understandingthereof, have been omitted. 7

Referring to the figure, there are seen to be two shafts 1 and 2, parallelly disposed to each other. These shafts may be journaled for rotation in suitable bearings (not shown). Secured upon shafts 1 and 2 respectively, and arranged to rotate therewith, are two wheels or pulleys 8 and 4. Near one of their lateral surfacessaid pulleys are provided with a circumferential row of pins or sprockets 5, equally spaced and designed for a purpose'to be described. below. Mounted on pulleys 3 and 4, is an endless belt or carrier 6, which is preferably made ofv flexible material. This belt is provided with a series of holes 7, spaced according to the arrangement of the pins 5 and adapted to be engaged thereby to give said belt a revolving movement about the pulleys 3 and 4.

Securely mounted on the lower shaft 2 is a ratchet wheel 8. A motor magnet 9 has an armature 1O pivoted at 11, and supplied at its other end with a spring controlled pawl 12 which cooperates with the teeth of ratchet wheel 8. When the motor magnet 9 is energized, its armature is attracted and the pawl 12 engages the ratchet 8 to advance shaft 2 in a clockwise direction through an angular distance equivalent to one tooth of said ratchet. The shaft 2, thus acting as a driving shaft, advances the fiexiblegbelto through a corresponding distance. Mounted also upon the shaft 2 is a disk l3havinga corrugated periphery. The roller Pk pivoted to the spring member 15, is constantly held in yielding engagement with the-periphery ofsaid-disk, serving thereby to insure a proper movement of the belt 6 when to conform to the shape of the carrier 6, and I each one is electrically connected to its brush 16 at the point where it passes through the supporting base 17.

Intermediate to the shafts 1 and 2, and opposite one side of the carrier, there are three conducting strips 19, securely fastened to a supporting frame 20. The strips 19 are arranged to be engaged by the brushes of each set 16 throughout a portion of their movement about the pulleys 3 and 4. On the other side of the carrier 6 is a panel bank of terminals, over which each of the brush sets is arranged to wipe. Said bank is generally designated by the character 21, and consists of a plurality of sets, each one of which rep resents a circuit, such as 22, 23 and 24. These circuits extend in the well known manner to selector or other switches in the system, while the conductors 25, 26 and 27 connected to the strips 19 come from another circuit to which the switch is individual. It will be observed the brush sets 16 are so spaced on the carrier 6 that one and only one set is in operative relation to the terminal bank, while another set is in wiping contact with the conducting strips 19. In other words, when one set of brushes rests on any set of circuit terminals in the group, one other set of brushes is in engagement with the terminals 19. In this manner a circuit may be extended through the medium of brushes 16 and flexible conductors 18 to the terminals of any circuit in the bank 21 when the proper conditions have been brought about.

Inasmuch as the circuit arrangement of this switch forms no part of the present invention, an illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecesary. The general circuit arrangement suitable for use in con nection with such a switch is shown and described in Patent No. 1,181,911 issued to H. P. Clausen.

While but one embodimentv has been chosen in which to illustrate the present in Vention, it is obvious that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A selective switch having in combina tion, a pair of rotatable members, an endless carrier thereonhaving a driving engagement therewith, stationary circuit terminating feed members, a row of fixed circuit terminals, a plurality of brushes mounted on said carrier and arranged to make contact with the feed members and circuit terminals to electrically interconnect said feed members and circuit terminals, and means for operating said carrier.

2. A selective switch having in combina tion, rotatable supporting members, an endless carrier thereon having a driving engagement therewith, a stationary circuit terminating feed member, a row of fixed circuit terminals, brushes secured to said carrier in electrical connection with each other, said brushes being arranged to make contact with said feed member and said terminals for electrically interconnecting the same, and means for driving said carrier.

3. In a switch, the combination of an endless carrier having a plurality of brush sets fixed thereon at equal intervals, the brushes comprising each of said sets being insulated of fixed circuit terminals with which said brush sets make engagement, an electrical connection between corresponding brushes of each set, and means for moving said carmen 5. In a switch, the combination of an endless carrier having a plurality of brush sets fixed thereon, stationary contacts with which said brushes make engagement, a panel bank of fixed terminals with which said brushes make engagement, and operating means for driving the carrier, said means being arranged to move said brushes successively over said terminals, an electrical connection between corresponding brushes of each set, said sets of brushes being so arranged that some pair thereof is always in position to electrically connect the stationary contacts to the terminals of said panel bank. v

-6. In a switch, the combination of two rotatable members, an endless carrier supported thereby and having a driving engagement therewith, a plurality of brush sets fixed to said carrier, circuit terminal strips, a row of circuit terminals arranged in a panel, and a motor magnet for operating one of said rotatable members ,to drive the carrier in a constant direction, corresponding brushes of each of said sets being electrically connected and such sets being so arranged on said carrier that some one thereof is always in wipin contact with said circuit terminal strips w ile some other set is in position to engage successively the circuit terminals in said panel.

7. In a selective switch, the combination of stationary contacts, an endless carrier,

tion between corresponding brushes of each set, and step-by-step means for actuating said carrier.

8. In a selective switch, the combination of stationary contacts, an endless carrier, ,a plurality of sets of brushes fixed thereon, said sets of brushes being arranged to successively and continuously engage said contacts, a bank of circuit terminals with which said brushes cooperate, an electrical connection between corresponding brushes of each set, step-by-step means for actuating said carrier, and means for positioning said brushes accurately.

9. In a switch, the combination of rotatable members, an endless carrier mounted thereon and having a driving engagement therewith, circuit terminating feed members, a row of circuit terminals, a plurality of sets of brushes mounted on said carrier and arranged to interconnect said feed members and circuit terminals, the brushes of each set being insulated from each other, corresponding brushes of different sets being electrically connected, and means for operating said carrier.

10. In a switch, the combination of an endless carrier, stationary contacts, a plurality of circuit terminals, a plurality of sets of brushes attached to said carrier and arranged to interconnect said contacts and circuit terminals, the brushes of each set being insulated from each other, a flexible conductor for electrically connecting corresponding brushes of difierent sets, and means for driving said carrier.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of September, A. D.

1917. CHARLES L. GOODRUM. 

